Occurrence and type of traumatic experiences among young Bosnian refugees in Denmark

Prior research has shown that young refugees may be especially traumatised. The study includes 123 young Bosnian refugees, living at two Bosnian boarding-schools in Denmark who were given a revised version of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). The subjects themselves have on average experienced seven traumatic events, and have either witnessed or had a family member experience an additional six events. Three-quarters have been shot at, have lost their homes and private possession and have been exposed to violence in the form of harassment or humiliation. Two-thirds have lost friends. Three-fifths have lived with uncertainty as to whether friends and family were alive or dead. More than half have seen dead and wounded people, have had their lives threatened and have thought that they would die. More than a third have lost close family members, have been wounded and have had their homes destroyed. Just under a third have been exposed to physical violence or have witnessed somebody being killed. A quarter have starved and been ill without being able to receive treatment. About a fifth have experienced captivity, torture and forced labour. 6% have been raped or exposed to other forms of sexual abuse. It is concluded that the young Bosnians examined are a multitraumatised group. Use of the HTQ increased the number of traumatic events quite considerably compared to the case notes.